Joni Ernst, Georgia Republicans support Trump on bus tour stop in Macon. What they said
The Donald Trump campaign made a stop in Macon Friday as part of a bus tour across the nation in the final weeks before the election.
Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, Georgia Senate Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy Jr. and candidate for U.S. House Wayne Johnson appeared at the event to support the former president and his running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance.
While Matt Gaetz, U.S. representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district, was initially advertised as a speaker, the campaign said that was the result of a miscommunication and Gaetz wasn’t scheduled to appear in Macon. Gaetz will appear at later stops on the tour, campaign officials said.
The speakers echoed Trump’s major issues on the campaign trail, including the economy and immigration, and discussed Hurricane Helene’s impact on Georgia.
“If you vote for the Trump/Vance agenda, your life will be more affordable,” Johnson said.
What did the Trump campaign say about the economy?
The economy featured heavily in the campaign’s event in Macon. Johnson framed the upcoming presidential race as critical to lowering the cost of living. According to CNN, nearly 40% of Americans worry that their family’s income won’t be enough to cover costs.
“This election is all about affordability,” Johnson said. “Affordable housing, cars, and quite frankly just life necessities.”
Ernst echoed similar points, and said Trump plans to make things more affordable by increasing oil drilling in Alaska. Ernst claims that the move could lower costs for transportation, heating and air.
“Everything comes back to energy,” Ernst said. “It will help transportation costs, it helps drive down fuel costs for housing, heating, cooling, all of that.”
Ernst also said Trump would loosen regulations on small businesses to stimulate growth and lower operating costs.
“A lot of small businesses will struggle to keep up with a lot of rules and regulations,” Ernst said. “They can’t hire fancy attorneys to come in and take care of that for them.”
Researchers at the University of Chicago say that the question of whether or not loosening regulations helps the economy is complicated. Deregulation can sometimes stimulate growth and be helpful, but at other times it may be ineffective.
What about Hurricane Helene?
Hurricane Helene was also top of mind for the campaign. The storm devastated parts of south and east Georgia, leaving thousands of people with power and water, destroying homes and businesses and killing 33 people.
Trump joined Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Friday to deliver remarks about the storm in Evans Friday. He and his opponents, Vice President Kamala Harris, have visited the state in the past week to survey damage.
“We’ve got a lot of Georgians hurting right now,” Kennedy said during the campaign event.
Ernst empathized with attendees by talking about her daughter, who lives in Hinesville and was left without power for several days after Hurricane Helene.
“I was able to witness the strength of that (storm) firsthand,” Ernst said.
Ernst also claimed Harris took money from FEMA to give to migrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Trump made the same claim at a Thursday rally in Saginaw, Michigan, and it has been echoed by several of his high-profile allies. But there is no evidence that Harris or President Joe Biden’s administration took the money or rerouted it.
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 5:06 PM.